Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Any love for the .222?

Still have my 788, bought new in 1967. My first "real varmint rifle." I was pretty proud of it. Seems like a real clunker today, but still shoots. I killed a lot of stuff with it, from chipmunks to deer.

I've got one in 788 that I bought used a couple years ago. Love everything about that rifle except for the ejection problems. Accurate as all get out with 52 gr Hornadys and H 355.

I’ve had several 788’s and the only ejection problem I’ve ever experienced was the empty case being ejected right into the scope windage dial and landing back in the port backwards.

My Riihimaki is one I really love.

Yes I have a early Sako 222 and a 222Mag both with detachable magazines.

Had a beautifully finished Steyr in .222R - spiral outside effect on the barrel and a clip feed - unusually nice and a bit too fancy for my uses. A fine gentleman now has it.

While here - have any amongst you any experience with the .222 Kilbourne? It looks like a prototype for the .222 magnum (why was that one produced?) and mine is a reworked Win 54 and apparently was put together by L. Kilbourne. I'm going to try to use .222 mag dies to load and finally shoot. Any info out there?

I don’t fool with pop guns, that’s why I have a 222 MAGNUM. It kills stuff.

One that I let slip away!



Sako Vixen, Varmint, 222 Rem.

Early 1950’s

I admire the entire tribe based on that case, but have only ever owned .223s, which have worked well for me. The hair-splitting advantages of the others don’t exist for me, but I “get” why others like them. An opportunity to acquire a nice vintage .222 (or magnum) might trip my trigger.

Nice

Also have one in Pre-Garcia, Bofors heavy barrel…

Never had one, always wanted one, but the stars never aligned. Long time back one of the family members had one that was absurdly accurate. Nothing inside 200-250 yards had a chance...

The first centerfire rifle I ever shot was a Remington BDL in 222 with a Redfield scope on it, probably around 1964 or so. I can still feel the heft of that rifle and the smell of gun oil and Hoppe's #9 :-)

My Remington 700 .222. I don’t shoot it much any more. Probably going to have to go shoot it now.

Thanks. The reason I asked is my father may have had one like that a long time ago. When he was teaching me about centerfire handloading he would sometimes reminisce about a nice little Sako 222 he had in the days before I came along. He had no pictures of it. Fifties would fit the time frame.

I have five including one 722A, three 722Bs and a Custom Shop Model 7 Mannlicher stock version. It’s hard to find a 222 that requires a lot of load development.

I've shot several 222s over the years and seen many more shot and never saw one that wasn't superbly accurate..

I've lusted over a Sako 222 for many years and always let them get away for one reason or another. Still hope to scratch that itch one of these days...

I've never heard a bad thing about the 222. It's just that the 5.56/223 insured that the 222 would be put in the shadows.

Oh...I dont know. You might should sell it.


To me of course.